NEWS
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON
A BREATH OF
FRESH AIR
Redcar spray firm ’ s new humidity kit could be game-changer
Rarely has the air that we breathe been in sharper focus than during the past year and a half . And with more people tentatively returning to the office or workplace as Covid restrictions ease , as well as people wanting a fresh , hygienic environment at home , a Teesside company believes it has the perfect solutions for air humidity issues .
Sealpump , based at the Innovation Centre on Redcar ’ s Kirkleatham Business Park , is one of the UK ’ s major designers and suppliers of industrial spray nozzle systems .
Founded in 1979 by director Stephen Larkin ’ s father Tony , it designs , makes , supplies and installs systems for a wide variety of industrial sectors .
During Covid , part of the Sealpump stable , IC Spray , hit the headlines with its EU Tunnel - a quick and easy way to check a person ’ s temperature and sanitise them before they are allowed entry to a building or event .
But with ventilation and humidity control now so important in both work and home settings , Sealpump reckons it may have another game-changer on its hands .
It has teamed up with Austria-based manufacturer Merlin Technology GmbH to distribute two cutting-edge humidifiers - the Air-C 150 and the Air-C Duo .
The Air-C 150 mobile humidifier , costing around £ 450 , is designed for rooms up to 60 sq m . The Air-C Duo , however , purifies the air in rooms up to 50 sq m and humidifies in rooms up to 20 sq m .
Both are flexible , reliable and offer great value for money . So whether it ’ s to humidify a small room at the workplace or home , or a larger office space , Stephen reckons they ’ ve got it covered .
He said : “ We already do systems to control office and work building humidity ,
Sealpump directors Stephen Larkin ( left ) and Stuart Brown
but the fixed humidity control systems are quite involved and sometimes not suitable for all areas such as small spaces like offices or classrooms . These , though , are really easy to plug in - you can have one in your front room or your office .
“ You should always have between 40- 60 per cent humidity . Anything lower and it encourages bugs and bacteria to grow , so people get coughs , colds and flu .
“ Under a certain level of humidity , your immune system doesn ’ t work efficiently , and you may pick up all sorts of bugs .
“ And a big reason we ’ re really keen on them is that they go hand in hand with what ’ s been going on with Covid .”
As to how they work , he explained : “ They are very reliable , they ’ re automatic , so you don ’ t have to manually fill them , and you can plumb them in if you want to . They ’ re like you ’ d set your central heating at home - the best level is about 50 per cent humidity , so you set them to that , and it just knocks on and off as your central heating would .
“ We ’ re still supplying the industries we always have . Humidity is vital in more industrial places than you ’ d think but generally , it ’ s to benefit a product or a process that ’ s happening - electronics or printers or a car plant . But this is for people , which is the most important thing .”
As for Sealpump ’ s future , Stephen and fellow director Stuart Brown are keen for the stable - Sealpump , IC Spray and Spray Direct - to continue growing and adapting . Eight staff are currently employed , but they ’ re about to be joined by an apprentice next month .
Stephen said : “ We just want to continue growing . We ’ ve always generally been a distributor but we now make and sell a lot of our core spray nozzle products , under our own brand .
“ Our humidification systems were a relatively small part of our business a few years ago but we think it will increase a lot quite quickly . We ’ d also like to establish a service department .
“ We just want to continue developing , really . We ’ ve been around a long time and we want to be around the same again at least .”
Visit sealpump . com
PICTURE : TOM BANKS
The voice of business in the Tees region | 93